Highwoods wins community grant

Shoppers have helped Highwoods Preservation Society to achieve its aim of creating a third access-for-all path in the local beauty spot.

The society successfully applied for a grant under the Tesco Bags of Help initiative which saw the supermarket giant teaming up with Groundforce to award money, raised from the 5p bag levy, to environmental and greenspace projects. Highwoods were awarded £10,000.

Highwoods SUS-160322-080038001

Society volunteers have cared for the 87-acre wildlife habitat since 1980 under a woodland management agreement with Rother District Council.

The society’s first access-for-all trail, named after founder-chairman Humphry Smith brought so much pleasure to people who would otherwise not have been able to enjoy the woods that it added a second, thanks to a legacy from supporter Janet Baker.

It planned a third trail, a loop providing an addition to the Humphry Smith Trail. But the estimated cost was £13,000.

Alan Dengate, from the Society, said: “This will be a welcome boost to our funds enabling us to have the extended trail finished and open by the summer.”

Chairman John Heasman said: “I wish to thank everyone who took the trouble to vote and to Tesco for organising this project. The allocation of these funds will enable much more of the woods to become accessible to disabled and pushchair users. I especially want to thank Alan Dengate, our warden, and Chris Ashford, our webmaster, who put so much into this scheme.

“So come along, bring a picnic and enjoy the fresh air and wildlife.”

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